Compact optical head including two light emitters having parallel optical axes

ABSTRACT

A dichroic mirror of a polarized beam splitter is installed between a mirror and an objective lens as a beam synthesize/split means, in an optical system corresponding to a second dick and an optical system corresponding to a first disk arranged so as to form a two-layer structure. The dimension of the optical head in the width, length, and thickness directions are designed moderately.

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.08/991,100, filed Dec. 12, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,069,862.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a single optical disk unit forrecording and/or reproducing data on or from two or more kinds ofoptical disks with different corresponding wave lengths.

An optical disk unit is an information recording and reproducingapparatus having characteristics as a medium such as noncontact, largecapacity, random access, and low cost and is widely used as a recordingand reproducing apparatus of a digital audio signal or an externalstorage for a computer using these characteristics.

As a large capacity of computer data and recording and reproducing ofdigital moving picture information have been put to practical userecently, a highly densed storage capacity of an optical disk unit isrequired. It may be cited as one of the means for realizing high densityto make an optical spot focusing on the recording surface of an opticaldisk smaller and improve the resolution. The size of the optical spot isdecided by the wave length of a laser beam source to be used and thenumerical aperture NA of an objective lens, and when the wave length tobe used is shortened, the diameter of the optical spot can be madesmaller. In a DVD (digital video disk, ROM) standardized as a highdensity optical disk, it is decided to set the wave length to be used to635 nm or 650 nm. In this case, the numerical aperture NA is n sin θ,where n indicates a refraction factor on the emission side.

However, when an optical disk recorded in correspondence with theconventional wave length, 780 nm is reproduced using a laser beam with ashort wave length of 635 nm or 650 nm, there is a problem imposed that aplayback signal and control signal lowers due to differences in thereflection factor and absorption factor of the information recordingsurface. For example, in the standard of CD-R which is a write enableCD, the reflection factor is specified as 65% or more at a wave lengthbetween 775 and 820 nm. However, the reflection factor at a wave lengthbeyond the specified range is low and may be, for example, about 5% inthe neighborhood of 635 nm. On the other hand, the reproduction power isspecified as 0.7 mW or less, so that it is difficult to obtain asufficient playback signal and control signal when a laser beam with ashort wave length is used.

According to the prior art described in Japanese Patent ApplicationLaid-Open 8-55363, an optical system using a short wave length laserbeam corresponding to a high density optical disk (hereinafterabbreviated to high density disk optical system) and a conventionaloptical system using a long wave length laser beam corresponding to aconventional CD or CD-R (hereinafter abbreviated to CD optical system)are loaded on an optical head, and an optical disk with a differentcorresponding wave length can be reproduced by switching the opticalsystem depending on the disk to be reproduced. Furthermore, a commonportion is provided in the high density disk optical system and the CDoptical system using a beam synthesize/split means such as a polarizedbeam splitter, and the optical head is miniaturized.

In the aforementioned prior art, there are a constitution that the lightflux synthesized by a beam synthesize/split means 23 is led to a beamconvergent means 21 using a beam reflect means 22 such as a mirror asshown in FIG. 10a, and a constitution that there is no beam reflectmeans and the light flux synthesized by the beam synthesize/split means23 is directly led to the beam convergent means 21 as shown in FIG. 10b.

In the constitution shown in FIG. 10a, the non-common portions of thehigh density disk optical system and the CD optical system are arrangedin the same plane parallel with the disk surface, so that the opticalhead is increased in the length direction and width direction. In theconstitution shown in FIG. 10b, one of the high density disk opticalsystem and the CD optical system is arranged in the plane including theoptical axis of the objective lens, so that the optical head isincreased in the thickness direction. As mentioned above, it may bedifficult to load the optical head by the prior art in an optical diskunit in which the size is limited in the length, width, and thicknessdirections, such as one to be built in a personal computer or an audiosystem mounted on a car.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to solve the above problem and toprovide an optical head which has few restrictions in the dimensions inthe length direction, width direction, and thickness direction caused bythe size of an optical disk unit and which is moderately small and tominiaturize the optical disk unit at the same time.

To solve the above problem, the optical head of the present inventioncomprises a first light emission means for generating light having, apredetermined wave length, a second light emission means for generatinglight having a different wave length from that of the first lightemission means, a beam convergent means for converging a first lightflux outputted from the first light emission means on the informationrecording surface of a first disk and converging a second light fluxoutputted from the second light emission means on the informationrecording surface of a second disk which is different from the firstdisk in the corresponding wave length, a beam reflect means for changingthe beam direction of the first light flux which is arranged between thefirst light emission means and the beam convergent means, and a beamsynthesize means for synthesizing the first light flux and the secondlight flux arranged between the beam reflect means and the beamconvergent means. Therefore, the high density disk optical system andthe CD optical system are arranged so as to form a two-layer structurealong the direction of the optical axis of the objective lens.

By use of such a constitution, each optical system is arranged in theserial direction along the direction of the optical axis of theobjective lens, and the dimensions of the optical head in the lengthdirection, width direction, and thickness direction can be selectedmoderately. Thus, a small optical head which is hardly restricted by thesize of the optical disk unit can be provided. Furthermore, the opticaldisk unit can be miniaturized.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1a and 1 b are schematic views of an optical head showing thefirst embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a drawing showing an example of transmittance—wave lengthdependence of a dichroic mirror;

FIGS. 3a and 3 b are schematic views of a conventional optical head;

FIGS. 4a and 4 b are schematic views of a conventional optical head;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a prism comprising a dichroic mirror and amirror which are integrated;

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of an optical head showing the secondembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a conventional optical head;

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of a conventional optical head;

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of an optical disk unit showing the thirdembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a schematic view for explaining the optical system of aconventional optical head;

FIGS. 11a and 11 b are drawings showing the constitution of an objectivelens having a hologram;

FIGS. 12a and 12 b are schematic drawings showing an exchange device ofan objective lens; and

FIG. 13 is an illustration for a light flux conversion device.

DETAILED EXPLANATION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The constitution, operation, and effects of an optical head showing thefirst embodiment of the present invention will be explained hereunderwith reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIGS. 1a and 1 b are schematic views of an optical head showing anembodiment of the present invention. A light source 1 is, for example, asemiconductor laser diode and the light output thereof has a short wavelength corresponding to a high density disk 8 such as a DVD, forexample, 650 nm. A half mirror 2 leads light reflected from aninformation recording surface 81 of the high density disk 8 to thedetection lens system 10. A collimator lens 3 converts the divergentlight outputted from the light source 1 to a parallel light flux. Amirror 4 converts a light flux traveling in the direction perpendicularto the optical axis of an objective lens 7 so as to travel in thedirection of the optical axis of the objective lens 7. A semiconductorlaser module 5 comprises a light source having a different wave lengthfrom that of the light source 1 and a photo detector which areintegrated. The wave length of light output by the semiconductor lasermodule 5 has a wave length corresponding to a normal disk 9 and longerthan that of the light source 1 corresponding to the high density disk8, for example, 780 nm. The optical distance from the light emissionpoint to the objective lens 7 is set so that the divergent angle of alight flux entering the objective lens 7 becomes appropriate.

A dichroic mirror 6 in the shape of a parallel flat plate is, forexample, an optical element having a high transmittance and reflectionfactor—wave length dependence as shown in FIG. 2 and, in this case, adichroic mirror having a high reflection factor at a wave length of 780nm and a high transmittance at a wave length of 650 nm is used. Thedichroic mirror 6 synthesizes (makes the optical axes coincide with eachother) light entering from the mirror 4 and light flux entering from thelaser module 5 and leads them to the objective lens 7.

Reflected light fluxes from the information recording surfaces of thedisks 8 and 9 enter the dichroic mirror 6 via the objective lens 7. Thedichroic mirror 6 reflects and leads the light flux with a long wavelength from the disk 9 to the laser module 5 and passes and leads thelight flux with a short wave length from the disk 8 to the mirror 4.

The objective lens 7 is designed to focus a parallel light flux with awave length of 650 nm of the light source 1 with satisfactory aberrationvia a disk board with a thickness of 0.6 mm. A transparent protectivefilm 82 is formed on the surface of the disk board and light transmitsthe protective film 82 and is reflected on the information recordingsurface 81. In normal use, when a light flux with a wave length of 780nm of the laser module 5 passes a disk board with a thickness of 1.2 mmusing the objective lens 7, spherical aberration increases. Therefore,the light flux cannot be focused on an information recording surface 91of the normal disk 9 with satisfactory aberration.

However, depending on the divergent angle of a light flux entering theobjective lens 7, it is possible to cancel the spherical aberrationcaused by differences in the disk thickness and wave length and obtain asatisfactory spot. The aforementioned laser module 5 is arranged in aposition where the divergent angle of a light flux entering theobjective lens 7 is given so as to form a satisfactory spot on theinformation recording surface 91 of the normal disk 9 with acorresponding wave length of 780 nm at a thickness of 1.2 mm using theobjective lens 7.

The high density disk 8 is 0.6 mm in thickness and the correspondingwave length is a 650-nm band. The normal disk 9 is 1.2 mm in thicknessand the corresponding wave length is longer that of the high densitydisk 8 such as a 780-nm band. A detector optics 10 is provided so as todetect light reflected from the high density disk 8.

When the astigmatism method is used for focus control, the detectoroptics 10 comprises a cylinder lens and others. A photo detector 11using a photodiode detects a reproduced signal as well as a controlsignal for controlling the focusing position.

The aforementioned embodiment uses the light source 1, the half mirror2, the detection lens system 10, and the photo detector 11. However,these may have the same constitution as that of the semiconductor module5. In this case, the optical axis of the high density optical system(corresponding to high density disk 8) is parallel with the optical axisof the CD optical system (corresponding to high density disk 9). Theoperation of an optical head having the aforementioned constitution whendata is recorded or reproduced on or from the high density disk 8 willbe explained hereunder.

The light source 1 is turned on and the laser module 5 is turned off.Almost 50% of a light flux outputted from the light source 1 isreflected from the half mirror 2, changes its beam direction, enters thecollimator lens 3, and is converted to a parallel light flux. Theparallel light flux reflects from the mirror 4 and goes toward thedichroic mirror 6. The dichroic mirror 6 has a high transmittance for alight flux with a wave length of 650 nm, so that the incident light fluxtransmits as it is, enters the objective lens 7, and focuses on theinformation recording surface 81 of the high density disk 8 withsatisfactory aberration.

The light flux reflected from the information recording surface 81 ofthe high density disk 8 transmits the objective lens 7 and the dichroicmirror 6 and then reflects from the mirror 4 and enters the collimatorlens 3. The light flux is converted to a converged light flux by thecollimator lens 3 and enters the half mirror 2 and almost 50% thereoftransmits it and is led to the detector optics 10 and then reaches thephoto detector 11, and a reproduced signal and a control signal aredetected.

The operation when the normal disk 9 is recorded or reproduced will beexplained hereunder.

The light source 1 is turned off and the laser module 5 is turned on. Alight flux outputted from the laser module 5 goes toward the dichroicmirror 6. The dichroic mirror 6 has a high reflection factor for a lightwith a wave length of 780 nm, so that the light flux reflects, changesits direction, and enters the objective lens 7.

The light flux enters the objective lens 7 as divergent light, and thedivergent angle at this time is an angle for canceling the sphericalaberration caused by differences in the wave length and disk thickness,so that the light flux is focused on the information recording surface91 of the normal disk 9 with satisfactory aberration.

The light flux reflected from the normal disk 9 transmits the objectivelens 7, is reflected from the dichroic mirror 6, and enters the lasermodule 5, and a reproduced signal and a control signal are detected.

A difference in the numerical aperture between when light is focused onthe high density disk 8 and when light is focused on the normal disk 9,that is, a difference in the diameter of the incident light flux intothe objective lens 7 is not explained. However, this problem can besolved by installing corresponding irises in the non-common portions ofthe high density disk optical system and the normal disk (CD) opticalsystem respectively. Aperture restrictions using a wave length selectionfilter having a transmittance and reflection factor—wave lengthdependence which is the same as that of the dichroic mirror 6 may beprovided between the objective lens 7 and the dichroic mirror 6.

As mentioned above, according to the first embodiment of the presentinvention, two or more kinds of disks with different corresponding wavelengths can be recorded or reproduced as before.

Next, effects of the first embodiment of the present invention will beexplained by comparing with the constitution of a conventional opticalhead. The coordinate system is as shown in each drawing.

FIGS. 3a and 3 b are detailed drawings of an optical head having themirror 4 arranged between a beam synthesize/split means (the dichroicmirror 6 in the drawing) and a beam convergent means (the objective lens7 in the drawing) as shown in FIG. 10a as prior art. FIGS. 4a and 4 bare detailed drawings of an optical head having no beam reflect means(the mirror 4 in the previous drawing) which is structured so as to leada light flux synthesized by a beam synthesize/split means (the dichroicmirror 6 in the drawing) directly to a beam 5 convergent means (theobjective lens 7 in the drawing) as shown in FIG. 10b as prior art, andthe high density disk system is arranged in a plane perpendicular to theinformation recording surface 81 or 91 of the disk 8 or 9. Namely, theoptical axes of the collimator lens 3, the half mirror 2, the detectoroptics 10, and the photo detector 11 are in the same direction as thatof the optical axis of the object lens 7.

The distance of the photo detector 11 in the x direction from the mirror4 of the optical head shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b is assumed as ax and thelength of the dichroic mirror 6 in the x direction is assumed as mx.Assuming the distance between the photo detector 11 and the mirror 4 ofthe optical head in the first embodiment of the present invention shownin FIGS. 1a and 1 b as x, ax≧x+mx, that is, x<ax is held. According tothe present invention, an optical head which is smaller than aconventional one in the x direction (width direction) can be providedand can be mounted in an optical disk unit having a dimensionalrestriction in the x direction.

In the case of the optical head shown in FIGS. 3a and 3 b the distancebetween the objective lens 7 and the laser module 5 cannot be reduced toa certain distance or less due to the mirror 4 existing in the opticalpath, and it may be impossible to arrange the laser module 5 in adesired position. However, the optical head in the embodiment shown inFIG. 1a and 1 b is free of worries about it.

On the other hand, the length of the optical head in the x direction(width direction) shown in FIGS. 4a, 4 b is smaller than the length ofthe optical head in the x direction shown in FIG. 1. However, due to theconstitution that the high density disk optical system is arranged in aplane perpendicular to the disk 8 or 9, that is, since the optical axisof the high density disk system is in the same direction as that of theoptical axis of the objective lens 7, the optical head increases in sizein the z direction (thickness direction). An ordinary optical disk unitis strictly restricted in the thickness direction rather than the widthdirection and length direction (Y direction) so as to miniaturize theunit, so that the optical head shown in FIGS. 1a-1 b is not realistic.

As mentioned above, according to one embodiment of the presentinvention, when the beam synthesize/split means 6 is installed betweenthe mirror 4 of the high density disk optical system and the objectivelens 7, the dimensions of an optical head in the thickness, width, andlength directions which records or reproduces two or more kinds of diskswith different corresponding wave lengths are made moderate, and theoptical head can be mounted in an optical disk unit to be built in apersonal computer or an audio system mounted on the car, the size ofwhich optical disk unit is restricted. Furthermore, when the CD opticalsystem is set as a finite system and a laser module with light emissionand reception integrated is used, the number of parts is reduced and asmall and inexpensive optical head can be provided.

In this embodiment, the position of the laser module 5 is specified bythe divergent angle entering the objective lens 7. However, the presentinvention is not limited to this example. When a means for convertingthe divergent and convergent angles of a light flux of a concave lens orothers is installed between the laser module 5 and the dichroic mirror6, and the divergent angle of an incident light flux into the objectivelens 7 is controlled by the lens power, the position of the laser module5 can be decided optionally.

When a light flux with a wave length of 780 nm enters the objective lens7 for focusing a parallel light flux with a wave length of 650 nm withsatisfactory aberration via a disk board with a thickness of 0.6 mm andfocuses via a board with a thickness of 1.2 mm, a spherical aberrationis generally generated and a satisfactory spot cannot be obtained. Whenan incident light flux is divergent light having a predetermineddivergent angle, it is known that a satisfactory spot can be obtainedalso for a 1.2-mm disk. In the aforementioned embodiment, the lasermodule 5 is arranged in the position conforming to this condition.

When such an objective lens is shared, to limit a spot on theinformation recording surface 91 of the disk 9 even when a CD having along wave length is used under the condition that the divergent angle isdecided, it is necessary to arrange the light source at a fixed distancefrom the information recording surface 91. In the aforementionedembodiment, the light source 5 for a CD with a long wave length isarranged in the neighborhood of the objective lens 7, so that theposition relation can be set easily.

When the divergent angle is decided as shown in FIG. 13, the arrangeableposition of the laser module is decided at a point of a. The light fluxconversion means changes the divergent angle of a light flux and forexample, a concave lens 75 is arranged in front of the objective lens 7,and the position of the laser module can be changed to the point b withthe divergent angle of a light flux entering the objective lens 7 keptat the predetermined angle. Furthermore, when the distance between theobjective lens 7 and the laser module 5 is made longer using the concavelens 75, the aberration of a spot can be made better. Furthermore, forexample, when the distance between the objective lens 7 and the lasermodule 5 is made shorter using a lens, the use factor can be improved.

In this embodiment, an objective lens designed so as to focus a parallellight flux with the wave length of the light source 1 on the informationrecording surface 81 of the high density disk 8 with satisfactoryaberration is used as a beam convergent means. However, the presentinvention is not limited to this example.

The same effect can be obtained also by using an objective lens designedso as to focus the predetermined divergent light flux or convergentlight flux with the wave length of the light source 1 on the informationrecording surface 81 of the disk 8 with satisfactory aberration when thehigh density disk optical system is set as a finite system.

A hologram objective lens may be used as a beam convergent means. Thehologram pattern is that the primary light is focused on the informationrecording surface 91 of the disk 9 with satisfactory aberration for thewave length of the laser module 5, and the zero-order light is focusedon the information recording surface 81 of the high density disk 8 withsatisfactory aberration for the wave length of the light source 1. Withrespect to hologram surfaces 76 and 77, even if the hologram surface 76is directly engraved on the lens 7 as shown in FIG. 11a, the hologramsurface 77 is mounted together with the objective lens 7 as a differentpart as shown in FIG. 11b and both the hologram surfaces may movetogether. In FIG. 11a, in which the hologram pattern is formed on thelens surface, the two focuses of the numerical aperture NA 0.6 of theDVD by the zero-order light and the numerical aperture 0.45 of the CD bythe primary light are linked, so that both the DVD and CD can bereproduced by a single lens. Each numerical aperture is a specifiedvalue. On the other hand, in FIG. 11b in which the hologram surface 77is a different part from the objective lens 7, the focus of the DVD bythe zero-order light and the focus of the CD by the primary light arelinked.

Furthermore, as beam convergent means, a first objective lens 71 forfocusing a light flux from the light source 1 on the informationrecording surface 81 of the high density disk 8 and a second objectivelens 72 for focusing a light flux from the laser module 5 on theinformation recording surface 91 of the normal disk 9 are provided asshown in FIGS. 12a and 12 b, and the first objective lens 71 and thesecond objective lens 72 may be structured so that they are mechanicallyswitched depending on the disk to be recorded or reproduced. FIG. 12ashows a case that a light flux from the CD optical system is irradiatedonto the information recording surface 81 of the CD via the secondobjective lens 72, and FIG. 12b shows a case that a light flux from thehigh density disk optical system is irradiated onto the informationrecording surface 91 of the DVD via the first objective lens 71. Ineither case, the switching is carried out by an actuator (driving means)73 supporting the two objective lenses 71 and 72 in the movable state.

In this embodiment, the mirror 4 for surface reflection is used as abeam reflect means. However, the present invention is not limited tothis example. The beam direction may be changed by inner reflectionusing a prism.

Furthermore, when a prism 18 is structured so as to have a surface 13 onwhich a wave length selection film having the same transmittance andreflection factor—wave length dependence as that of a mirror surface 12totally reflecting the wave length of the light source 1 and thedichroic mirror 6 as shown in FIG. 5 is coated, it is possible tointegrate the beam reflect means and the beam synthesize/split means andreduce the number of parts.

The operation of the prism 18 shown in FIG. 5 will be explainedhereunder.

A light flux of the high density disk system entering the prism in theperpendicular direction is reflected on the surface 12 and goes towardthe surface 13. The light flux transmits the wave length selection filmcoated on the surface 13 and is led to the objective lens 7. A lightflux going toward the objective lens is refracted by the surface 13, sothat the surface 12 and the surface 13 are not parallel with each otherbut designed so that a light flux going toward the objective lenscoincides with the optical axis of the objective lens 7. On the otherhand, a light flux of the CD optical system reflects on the surface 13and goes toward the objective lens. The prism 18 has a beam shapingfunction, and the section of a light flux entering the prism has adifferent shape from the section of the light flux outputting from theprism, so that care should be taken as to the shape and position of thelimited aperture of the high density disk system.

Next, the constitution, operation, and effects of the optical head ofthe second embodiment of the present invention will be explained withreference to the accompanying drawings.

FIGS. 6a and 6 b are schematic views of the optical head showing thesecond embodiment of the present invention. The optical head comprises ahalf mirror 2, a collimator lens 3, a mirror 4, a high density disk 8, anormal disk 9, a detector optics 10, and a photo detector 11, and theconstitution thereof is the same as the constitution of the firstembodiment of the present invention.

A light source 14 whose wave length corresponds to the high density disk8 is mounted in the direction that light enters with the polarizationdirection being p polarization for a polarized beam splitter 15. Forexample, a 635-nm semiconductor laser in the TM mode can be used withthe far field pattern whose ellipse direction is the same as that of asemiconductor laser oscillating in the ordinary TE mode kept unchanged.The polarized beam splitter 15 has a property for transmitting ppolarized light (polarized light whose polarization direction isparallel with the incident plane) with the wave lengths of the lightsource 14 and a laser module 16, reflecting s polarized light (polarizedlight whose polarization direction is perpendicular to the incidentplane), and converting the beam direction.

The semiconductor laser module 16 whose wave length corresponds to thedisk 9 is mounted in the direction that light enters with thepolarization direction being p polarization for the polarized beamsplitter 15. The semiconductor laser module 16 is also mounted in theposition where light enters an objective lens 17 as a suitable divergentlight in the same way as with the laser module 5 in the firstembodiment. The objective lens 17 is designed so as to focus a parallellight flux with the same wave length as that of the light source 14 onthe high density disk 8 with satisfactory aberration.

The operation of an optical head having the aforementioned constitutionwhen the high density disk 8 is recorded or reproduced will be explainedhereunder.

The light source 14 is turned on and the laser module 16 is turned off.The light flux among the light fluxes outputted from the light source 14which is reflected by the half mirror 2 and enters the collimator lens 3is converted to a parallel light and goes toward the mirror 4. The lightflux reflected by the mirror 4 transmits the polarized beam splitter 15so as to enter with p polarization. The light flux goes straight on asit is, passes through the objective lens 17, and is focused on theinformation recording surface 81 of the high density disk 8 withsatisfactory aberration.

The reflected light from the disk 8 passes through the objective lens17, transmits the polarized beam splitter 15 with the p polarized lightunchanged, and is reflected by the mirror 4. The reflected light isconverted to convergent light by the collimator lens 3 and led to thehalf mirror 2. The light flux transmitting the half mirror 2 passesthrough the detector optics 10 and is led to the photo detector 11, anda reproduced signal and a control signal are detected.

Next, the operation when the normal disk 9 is recorded or reproducedwill be explained hereunder.

The light source 14 is turned off and the laser module 16 is turned on.The light flux outputted from the laser module 16 enters the polarizedbeam splitter 15 with s polarization and is reflected and led to theobjective lens 17. The divergent angle of the light flux entering theobjective lens 17 is an angle for canceling the spherical aberrationcaused by differences in the disk thickness and wave length, so that thelight flux is focused on the information recording surface 91 of thedisk 9 with satisfactory aberration.

The reflected light from the disk 9 passes through the objective lens17, enters the polarized beam splitter 15 with the s polarized lightunchanged, is reflected by it, and led to the laser module 16, and areproduced signal and a control signal are detected.

It is desirable to provide an aperture limit in the non-common portionsof the high density disk optical system and the CD optical systemrespectively or to provide an aperture limit using a wave lengthselection filter having the same transmittance and reflectionfactor—wave length dependence as that of the dichroic mirror 6 betweenthe objective lens 17 and the polarized beam splitter 15, or to providean aperture limit using a polaroid filter for transmitting polarizedlight of the high density disk system and reflecting polarized light ofthe CD system.

As mentioned above, also according to the second embodiment of thepresent invention, two or more kinds of disks with differentcorresponding wave lengths as before can be recorded or reproduced.

Next, effects of the second embodiment of the present invention will beexplained by comparing with the constitution of a conventional opticalhead. The coordinate system is as shown in each drawing.

FIGS. 7a and 7 b show an optical head having the mirror 4 arrangedbetween a beam synthesize/split means (the polarized beam splitter 15 inthe drawing) and a beam convergent means (the objective lens 17 in thedrawing) as shown in FIG. 10a as prior art. The light source 14 isarranged in the direction in which a light flux entering the polarizedbeam splitter 15 becomes p polarized light and the laser module 16 isalso arranged in the direction in which a light flux entering thepolarized beam splitter 15 becomes s polarized light.

FIGS. 8a and 8 b show an optical head having no beam reflect means (themirror 4 in the drawing) which is structured so as to lead a light fluxsynthesized by a beam synthesize/split means (the polarized beamsplitter 15 in the drawing) directly to a beam convergent means (theobjective lens 17 in the drawing) as shown in FIG. 10b as prior art. Thelight source 14 is arranged in the direction in which a light fluxentering the polarized beam splitter 15 becomes s polarized light andthe laser module 16 is arranged in the direction in which a light fluxentering the polarized beam splitter 15 becomes p polarized light.

The optical head in the second embodiment of the present invention shownin FIGS. 6a and 6 b is smaller in the length in the x direction than theconventional head shown in FIGS. 7a and 7 b by the length of thepolarized beam splitter in the x direction. In this way, an optical headwhich is smaller than a conventional one in the x direction (widthdirection) can be provided and can be mounted in an optical disk unitwhich is restricted in the x direction.

In the case of the optical head shown in FIGS. 7a and 7 b the distancebetween the objective lens 17 and the laser module 16 cannot be reducedto a certain distance or less due to the mirror 4 existing in theoptical path, and accordingly it may be impossible to arrange the lasermodule 16 in a desired position. However, the optical head in theembodiment shown in FIGS. 6a and 6 b is free of this problem.

As compared with FIG. 8, the length of the optical head in the xdirection in the second embodiment of the present invention is equal tothat shown in FIGS. 8a and 8 b, and the length in the z direction isequal to or smaller than that shown in FIGS. 8a and 8 b. The length inthe z direction is equal to that shown in FIGS. 8a and 8 b at mostdepending on the position decided from the package shape of the lasermodule 16 and the divergent angle entering the objective lens 17.However, the optical head of the present invention has an advantage thatit does not depend on these conditions and is generally smaller in the zdirection.

As mentioned above, also according to one embodiment, when the beamsynthesize/split means is installed between the mirror 4 of the highdensity disk optical system and the objective lens 7, the dimensions ofan optical head in the thickness, width, and length directions whichrecords or reproduces two or more kinds of disks with differentcorresponding wave lengths are made moderate and the optical head can bemounted in an optical disk unit to be built in a personal computer or anaudio one for a car, the size of which optical disk unit is restricted.Furthermore, when the CD optical system is set as a finite system and alaser module with light emission and reception integrated is used, thenumber of parts is reduced and a small and inexpensive optical head canbe provided.

In this embodiment, the polarized beam splitter 1S transmits p polarizedlight both with the wave length of the light source 14 and the wavelength of the laser module 16. However, the present invention is notlimited to this example. For example, a polarized beam splitter having awave length dependence such that it transmits both p polarized light ands polarized light for the wave length of the light source 14, andtransmits p polarized light and reflects s polarized light for the wavelength of the laser module 15 may be used. In this case, even if thelight source 14 is assumed as a laser with a wave length of nm in the TEmode, it can be used with the far field pattern whose ellipse directionis the same kept unchanged.

In this embodiment, the position of the laser module 16 is specified bythe divergent angle entering the objective lens 17. However, the presentinvention is not limited to it. When a means for converting thedivergent and convergent angles of a light flux of a concave lens orothers is installed between the laser module 16 and the polarized beamsplitter 15, and the divergent angle of an incident light flux into theobjective lens 17 is controlled by the lens power, the position of thelaser module 16 can be decided optionally.

In this embodiment, an objective lens designed so as to focus a parallellight flux with the wave length of the light source 14 on theinformation recording surface of the high density disk 8 withsatisfactory aberration is used as a beam convergent means. However, thepresent invention is not limited to this example. The same effect can beobtained also by using an objective lens designed so as to focus thepredetermined divergent light flux or convergent light flux with thewave length of the light source 14 on the information recording surfaceof the high density disk 8 with satisfactory aberration when the highdensity disk optical system is set as a finite system. A hologramobjective lens may be used as a beam convergent means. The hologrampattern is that the primary light is focused on the informationrecording surface of the disk 9 with satisfactory aberration for thewave length of the laser module 16, and the zero-order light is focusedon the information recording surface of the high density disk 8 withsatisfactory aberration for the wave length of the light source 14. Evenif the hologram is directly engraved on the lens, it may move togetherwith the objective lens as a different part.

Or, as beam convergent means, a first objective lens for focusing alight flux from the light source 14 on the information recording surfaceof the high density disk 8, and a second objective lens for focusing alight flux from the laser module 16 on the information recording surfaceof the normal disk, are provided, and the first objective lens and thesecond objective lens may be structured so that they are mechanicallyswitched depending on the disk to be recorded or reproduced.

In this embodiment, the mirror 4 for surface reflection is used as abeam reflect means. However, the present invention is not limited tothis example. The beam direction may be changed by inner reflectionusing a prism.

Next, the third embodiment of the present invention will be explained byreferring to FIG. 9. FIG. 9 is a block diagram of the optical disk unitshowing the third embodiment of the present invention.

The optical head 30 may be the optical head shown in the firstembodiment described above. However, the optical head shown in thesecond embodiment may be used. The light source 1 and the laser module 5of the optical head 30 turn light emission on or off and control outputpower respectively by a laser drive circuit 31 and a laser drive circuit32. The outputs of the photo detector 11 and the laser module 5 aresupplied to signal processing circuits 33 and 34 respectively andvarious signals such as a focus error signal, a tracking error signal,and a main signal are generated. These signals are supplied to a systemcontrol circuit 35.

A disk discriminator 36 discriminates the kind of a disk mounted in anoptical disk unit and outputs the result to the system control circuit35. The system control circuit 35 turns the light source 1 on when themounted disk is the high density disk 8 and turns the laser module 5 onwhen the mounted disk is the present disk 9 on the basis of the resultfrom the disk discriminator 36. Furthermore, the system control circuit35 supplies the focus error signal to a focus actuator drive circuit 37and the tracking error signal to a tracking actuator drive circuit 38 onthe basis of a signal generated by the corresponding signal processingcircuit 33 or 34. By doing this, the focus and tracking servo operationsare performed and recording or reproducing of the disk 8 or 9 isexecuted.

According to the present invention, a small disk unit which is providedwith an optical head of the present invention which is small in thelength direction x and the width direction y so as to avoid interferencewith other mechanisms such as the loading mechanism, and which canrecord or reproduce two or more kinds of disks with differentcorresponding wave lengths, can be realized.

According to the present invention, with respect to an optical disk unitfor recording and/or reproducing two or more kinds of disks withdifferent corresponding wave lengths, an optical head whose dimensionsin the width, length, and thickness directions are made moderatelysmaller can be provided, and also a small optical disk unit can beprovided.

What is claimed is:
 1. An optical head comprising: a first disk havingan information recording surface having a predetermined correspondingwave length; a second disk having an information recording surfacehaving a corresponding wave length which is different from that of saidfirst disk; beam convergent means for transmitting first and secondlight fluxes with different wave lengths which are reflected frominformation recording surfaces of said first and second disks; lightseparation means for separating a light flux from said beam convergentmeans into a first and a second light flux; beam reflect means forchanging the beam direction of said first light flux from said lightseparation means, said light separation means being disposed betweensaid beam convergent means and said beam reflect means; first lightdetection means for detecting a light flux from said beam reflect means;and second light detection means for detecting said second light flux.2. An optical head comprising: a first disk having an informationrecording surface having a predetermined corresponding wave length; asecond disk having an information recording surface having acorresponding wave length which is different from that of said firstdisk; first light emission means for generating light having thepredetermined wave length; second light emission means for generatinglight having a different wave length from that of said first lightemission means; beam convergent means for converging a first light fluxoutputted from said first light emission means on the informationrecording surface of said first disk and also converging a second lightflux outputted from said second light emission means on the informationrecording surface of said second disk having a different correspondingwave length from that of said first disk and furthermore transmittingfirst and second light fluxes with different wave lengths which arereflected from said first and second information recording surfaces;beam reflect means which is arranged between said first light emissionmeans and said beam convergent means and changes the beam directions ofa light flux from said first light emission means and a light flux fromsaid beam convergent means; beam synthesize/split means which isarranged between said beam reflect means and said beam convergent meansand synthesizes said first light flux and said second light flux andoutputs them to said light flux converging means or separates a lightflux from said light flux converging means into a first or second lightflux; first light detection means for detecting a light flux from saidbeam reflect means; and second light detection means for detecting saidsecond light flux.
 3. An optical head according to claim 2, wherein theoptical axis of said light flux converging means is almost perpendicularto said information recording surfaces of said first and second disks,and the optical axis of said first light emission means intersects theoptical axis of said light flux converging means almost orthogonally,and said first light emission means and said second light emission meansare arranged so that the optical axis of said first light emission meansand the optical axis of said second light emission means are parallelwith each other.
 4. An optical head according to claim 2, wherein saidbeam convergent means comprises a hologram objective lens.
 5. An opticalhead according to claim 2, wherein said beam convergent means comprisesan objective lens and a hologram.
 6. An optical head according to claim2, wherein light flux conversion means for converting the divergentangle or convergent angle of said second light flux is provided betweensaid beam convergent means and said second light emission means.
 7. Anoptical disk unit comprising: first light emission means; second lightemission means having a different wave length from that of said firstlight emission means; beam convergent means for converging a first lightflux outputted from said first light emission means on the informationrecording surface of a first disk and converging a second light fluxoutputted from said second light emission means on the informationrecording surface of a second disk which is different from said firstdisk in the corresponding wave length; disk discriminator fordiscriminating the kind of a mounted disk; and control means forswitching the operation statuses of said first light emission means andsaid second light emission means on the basis of the decision result ofsaid disk discriminator; wherein said optical disk unit is an opticaldisk unit which can record and/or reproduce said first or second diskand said optical head has beam reflect means which is arranged betweensaid first light emission means and said beam convergent means andchanges the beam direction of said first light flux and also has beamsynthesize/split means for synthesizing said first light flux and saidsecond light flux between said beam reflect means and said beamconvergent means.
 8. An optical head comprising: a first disk having aninformation recording surface having a predetermined corresponding wavelength; a second disk having an information recording surface having acorresponding wave length which is shorter than that of said first disk;first light emission means for generating light having the predeterminedwave length; second light emission means for generating light having awave length longer than that of said first light emission means; beamconvergent means for converging a first light flux outputted from saidfirst light emission means on the information recording surface of saidfirst disk and also converging a second light flux outputted from saidsecond light emission means on the information recording surface of saidsecond disk having a corresponding wave length shorter than that of saidfirst disk and furthermore converging first and second light fluxes withdifferent wave lengths which are reflected from said first and secondinformation recording surfaces; beam reflect means which is arrangedbetween said first light emission means and said beam convergent meansand changes the beam directions from said first light emission means anda light flux from said beam convergent means; beam synthesize/splitmeans which is arranged between said beam reflect means and said beamconvergent means and synthesizes said first light flux and said secondlight flux and outputs them to said light flux converging means orseparates a light flux from said light flux converging means into afirst or second light flux; first light detection means for detecting alight flux from said beam reflect means; and second light detectionmeans for detecting said second light flux.
 9. An optical headcomprising: a first light source of light having a first wave length; asecond light source of light having a second wave length that isdifferent from that of said first light source; an objective lens devicearranged to receive and converge a first light beam outputted from saidfirst light source onto the information recording surface of a firstdisk, and to receive and converge a second light beam outputted fromsaid second light source onto the information recording surface of asecond disk which is different from said first disk in the correspondingwave length; a reflector arranged in an optical path from said firstlight source to said objective lens device, so as to change the beamdirection of said first light beam; and a beam synthesizer arranged inan optical path from said reflector to said objective lens device, so asto synthesize said first light beam and said second light beam; whereinsaid first and second light sources are arranged so that the opticalaxis of said first light source and the optical axis of said secondlight source are parallel with each other.
 10. An optical head accordingto claim 9, wherein said objective lens device comprises a firstobjective lens for converging said first light beam onto saidinformation recording surface of said first disk, and a second objectivelens for converging said second light beam onto said informationrecording surface of said second disk.
 11. An optical head according toclaim 9, wherein said beam synthesizer comprises an element having aproperty such that said element transmits said first light beam andreflects said second light beam.
 12. An optical head according to claim9, wherein said beam synthesizer comprises a polarization element havinga property such that said polarization element transmits a light beamwith the wave length of said first light source whose polarizationdirection is parallel to a light inlet surface thereto, and reflects alight beam with the wave length of said second light source whosepolarization direction is perpendicular to the light inlet surface. 13.An optical head according to claim 9, wherein said reflector is a prismof inner reflection.
 14. An optical head according to claim 9, whereinthe functions fulfilled by said reflector and said beam synthesizer areperformed by a single prism.
 15. An optical head according to claim 9,wherein said second light beam entering said objective lens device is adivergent light.
 16. An optical head according to claim 9, wherein saidfirst light source is a short wave length laser source for a highdensity storage disk, and said second light source is a laser source fora CD having a wave length longer than that of said first light source.17. An optical head comprising: a first light source of light having afirst wave length; a second light source of light having a second wavelength that is different from that of said first light source; anobjective lens device arranged to receive and transmit first and secondlight beams respectively reflected from the information recordingsurfaces of a first disk having an information recording surfacecorresponding to the first wave length and a second disk having aninformation recording surface corresponding to the second wave length,said first and second light beams having different respective wavelengths; a beam splitter arranged to receive the converged first andsecond light beams from said objective lens device and to separate thereceived light beams into said first and second light beams; a reflectorarranged to receive said first light beam from said beam splitter and tochange the direction of propagation of said first light beam, said beamsplitter being disposed in an optical path from said objective lensdevice to said reflector; a first light detector arranged to receive thefirst light beam from said reflector; and a second light detectorarranged to receive said second light beam from said beam splitter;wherein said first and second light sources are arranged so that theoptical axis of said first light source and the optical axis of saidsecond light source are parallel with each other.
 18. An optical headcomprising: a first light source of light having a first wave length; asecond light source of light having a second wave length which isdifferent from the first wave length; an objective lens device arrangedto receive and converge a first light beam outputted from said firstlight source onto the information recording surface of a first diskhaving a corresponding first wave length, and to receive and converge asecond light beam outputted from said second light source onto theinformation recording surface of a second disk having a correspondingsecond wave length which is different from said first wave length, andfurthermore to receive and transmit respective corresponding first andsecond light beams having different respective wave lengths which arereflected from said first and second information recording surfaces; areflector arranged in an optical path from said first light source tosaid objective lens device, so as to change the beam directions of thefirst light beam received from said first light source and a light beamreceived from said objective lens device; a beam synthesizer/splitterarranged in an optical path from said reflector to said objective lensdevice, so as to synthesize said first light beam and said second lightbeam coming from said first and second light sources, respectively, andto output them to said objective lens device, and to receive andseparate a light beam transmitted from said objective lens device intosaid first and second light beams; a first light detector arranged toreceive said first light beam from said reflector; and a second lightdetector arranged to receive said second light beam from said beamsynthesizer/splitter; wherein said first and second light sources arearranged so that the optical axis of said first light source and theoptical axis of said second light source are parallel with each other.19. An optical head according to claim 18, wherein said objective lensdevice comprises a hologram objective lens.
 20. An optical headaccording to claim 18, wherein said objective lens device comprises anobjective lens and a hologram.
 21. An optical head according to claim18, further comprising an angle converter provided in an optical pathfrom said objective lens device to said second light source, arranged soas to convert the divergent angle or convergent angle of said secondlight beam.
 22. An optical disk unit comprising: a first light source oflight having a first wave length; a second light source of light havinga second wave length that is different from that of said first lightsource; an objective lens device arranged to converge a first light beamoutputted from said first light source onto the information recordingsurface of a first disk and a second light beam outputted from saidsecond light source onto the information recording surface of a seconddisk; a disk discriminator arranged to discriminate the kind of amounted disk; and a controller arranged to switch the operation statusesof said first light source and said second light source on the basis ofthe decision result of said disk discriminator; wherein said opticaldisk unit has a reflector arranged in an optical path from said firstlight source to said objective lens device so as to change the beamdirection of said first light beam, and a beam synthesizer/splitterarranged to receive and synthesize said first light beam and said secondlight beam, said beam synthesizer/splitter being positioned in anoptical path from said reflector to said objective lens device; andwherein the first and second light sources are arranged so that theoptical axis of said first light source and the optical axis of saidsecond light source are parallel with each other.
 23. An optical diskdevice for reproducing data from a first disk read out by a light beamof a first wave length and a second disk read out by a light beam of asecond wave length, said first wave length being longer than said secondwave length, comprising: a first light source of light having the firstwave length; a second light source of light having the second wavelength; an objective lens device arranged to receive and converge afirst light beam outputted from said first light source onto theinformation recording surface of said first disk and to receive andconverge a second light beam outputted from said second light sourceonto the information recording surface of said second disk; a firstoptical surface arranged in an optical path from said first light sourceto said objective lens device, so as to change the beam direction ofsaid first light beam; and a second optical surface arranged in anoptical path from said first optical surface to said objective lensdevice, so as to reflect said second light beam and to transmit saidfirst light beam; wherein said first and second light sources arearranged so that the optical axis of said first light source and theoptical axis of said second light source are parallel with each other.